Ankle Range of Motion Improving Device

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an end range of motion improving device, comprising, a base, a link member affixed to said base, the link member configured for being secured to a foot of a patient and being rotatable about a link axis for rotating the foot of the patient about an ankle joint of the patient through a foot range of motion, an actuator for rotating the link member about the link axis, and a controller controlling the actuator for selectively rotating the link member about the link axis through the foot range of motion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/377,342 filed Aug. 19, 2017, entitled Ankle Range of Motion Improving Device, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to range of motion therapy devices, and more particularly to an ankle range of motion therapy device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

After certain injuries, surgery or other medical treatments that affect the mobility of the ankle, it is customary for the patient to be prescribed physical therapy. For example after an ankle operation, scar tissue may form in the ankle joint tissue (i.e. arthrofibrosis) and as such, mobility of the ankle may suffer. A patient who has undergone ankle surgery may not be able to return to their normal daily activities without rehabilitative therapy. Studies have shown that prolonged immobilization after ankle surgery or injury may cause irreversible changes in articular cartilage, inhibit circulation of synovial fluid, starve joint cartilage of nutrients, and promote the development of adhesions, and thus causing a gradual loss of movement in the ankle. For example, contractures may form, which are deformities preventing the movement of a joint through a normal range of motion. Contractures may be the shortening of soft tissues of a limb, and the tightening of ligaments.

Commonly referenced foot motions provided by an ankle joint are dorsiflexion (upward rotation), and plantarflexion (downward rotation).

Commonly, a physician may prescribe therapeutic exercises to help a patient regain normal ankle end range of motion. For example, a therapist may prescribe active range of motion (AROM) exercises, active assisted range of motion (AAROM) exercises, passive range of motion (PROM) exercises, and/or progressive resisted exercises (PRE) to help strengthen muscles surrounding the ankle and break down scar tissue. AROM is defined as moving a body part without assistance of another. AAROM is defined as moving a body part with the assistance of another. PROM is defined as moving a body part with only the assistance of another. PRE are defined as movement of a body part against or opposing applied outside resistance.

As an example, to increase range of motion in the ankle, a physical therapist may apply passive range of motion therapy. For example, to increase range of motion, the therapist may manually place appropriate rotational force on a patient's ankle joint by rotating the patient's foot. After a desired force is achieved, the therapist may return the patient's foot to an original position to complete a cycle. Such therapy is applied on a frequent basis and maximum and minimum position angles are manually measured to quantify progress.

However, such manual methods are inconvenient because either the therapist or the patient has to travel on a frequent basis, possibly for many months. As such, ankle therapy via a physical therapist is time-consuming, inefficient and costly.

Efforts may be made to train others, for example, the wife or husband of the patient, to perform these exercises. However, such training efforts have poor results, however, due to lack of patient and caregiver compliance and insufficient training to replicate the skill of a licensed therapist.

Therefore, there exists a need for an ankle range of motion therapy machine or device that can rotate an ankle of a patient to provide both active and passive range of motion therapies for the above mentioned motions, and record usage data to track progress and check patient compliance.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed is an ankle end range of motion improving device, including a frame having a first foot, a second foot, a pair of legs spaced apart from one another and being affixed on the first foot, a support stand pivotably mounted to the pair of legs for setting a selectable inclination angle of the pair of legs, and a foot pedestal for supporting a foot of a user, the foot pedestal being disposed between the pair of legs, and being rotatable about a pivot axis having a fixed position with respect to the pair of legs, and an actuator connected to the foot pedestal for selectively rotating the foot pedestal about the pivot axis.

Also disclosed is an end range of motion improving device, comprising, a base, a link member affixed to said base, the link member configured for being secured to a foot of a patient and being rotatable about a link axis for rotating the foot of the patient about an ankle joint of the patient through a foot range of motion, an actuator for rotating the link member about the link axis, and a controller controlling the actuator for selectively rotating the link member about the link axis through the foot range of motion.

In another aspect, the link member includes a foot securer to secure the foot to the link member in rotating the foot through the foot range of motion.

In another aspect, the base includes a lower leg support for supporting the lower leg on the base in rotating the foot through the foot range of motion.

In another aspect, the base includes a lower leg securer for securing the lower leg to the base in rotating the foot through the foot range of motion.

In another aspect, the device is configured to register time that the link member spends at a particular position.

In another aspect, the device is configured to register force data from forces applied to the link member.

In another aspect, the device is configured to automatically hold the link member at a particular position for a predetermined pause time.

In another aspect, the device is configured to automatically rotatably cycle the link member between a first position and a second position.

In another aspect, the end range of motion improving device further comprises, one or more storage machines holding instructions executable by one or more logic machines to, receive a set of parameters, rotate the link member based on the set of parameters, record report data, and send the report data to a database.

In another aspect, the set of parameters includes a maximum angle and a minimum angle.

In another aspect, the set of parameters includes a maximum force.

In another aspect, the set of parameters includes time that the link member is to be held at a particular position.

In another embodiment, disclosed is a method of providing end range of motion therapy, the method comprising, providing an end range of motion improving device, the end range of motion improving device including a base, a link member affixed to said base, the link member configured for being secured to a foot of a patient and being rotatable about a link axis for rotating the foot of the patient about an ankle joint of the patient through a foot range of motion, an actuator for rotating the link member about the link axis, and a controller controlling the actuator for selectively rotating the link member about the link axis through the foot range of motion, providing a user input to the controller for rotating the link member, providing a user input to the controller for indicating therapy parameters, and rotating the foot according to the user inputs.

In another aspect, the method further comprises, configuring the link member to be secured to a foot of a patient to be rotatable about the link axis for rotating the foot of the patient about an ankle joint of the patient through a foot range of motion.

In another aspect, the method further comprises, registering data from usage of the end range of motion improving device.

In another aspect, providing a user input includes providing input from a remote device via a network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1A is a top view of an end range of motion improving device;

FIG. 1B is a side view of an end range of motion improving device;

FIG. 1C is a rear view of an end range of motion improving device;

FIG. 2A is a partially exploded perspective view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B is another partially exploded perspective view of the device of FIG.1 in a direction opposite FIG. 2A; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view the device of FIGS. 1 in implementation by a user supported by a chair.

FIG. 4 is partially exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the end of range of motion improving device.

FIG. 5 is partially exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the end of range of motion improving device in a direction opposite FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An end range of motion improving device 100 is shown in FIGS. 1-3. The device 100 includes a support frame 120. The support frame 120 includes a pair of parallel legs 121 that are connected to one another by a foot 122 provided on a base end of the support frame 120. A further foot 122 includes a pair of parallel rods 123 that are pivotably affixed to the legs 121 which serve as a stand for setting an incline angle α of the legs 121 with respect to a support surface, such as a floor 121A. An adjustment plate 124 is pivotably mounted to one of the legs 121 and includes a longitudinal slot 124 s which receives a threaded knob 125 that is connected to the corresponding rod 123 at a threaded hole. The knob 125 provides for setting the angle a by sliding the slot 124 s to the selected position to set the inclination of the legs 123. The feet 122 are provided with non-skid tips 122 t to prevent the device 100 from sliding.

Opposite the base end, the parallel legs are connected to one another by a calf brace 130. The calf brace 130 has opposing ears 131 mounted to adjustable collars 140 which slide onto the legs 121 and provide for setting a position of the calf brace 130. The collars 140 each have a respective knob 141 that acts as a set screw to set the position of the collars and thus the calf brace 130 on the legs 121. The ears 131 each have a respective slot 131 s for a strap 132, which straps a user's lower leg to the calf brace 130.

A foot pedestal 104 is rotationally affixed to the base 120. Particularly, the foot pedestal 104 has a support plate 104 p for supporting a user's foot, the support plate 104 p has two opposing flanges 104 f disposed laterally on the support plate 104 p opposite one another. The support plate 104 p is offset from the axis 108 by a distance that corresponds to a distance from the ankle joint to a bottom of the heel of the user. The flanges 104 f are orthogonal to the support plate 104 p and the flanges 104 f each include respective apertures 104 a that are axially aligned with one another and which define a pivot axis 108 of the foot pedestal 104. The apertures 104 a serve to mount the foot pedestal 104 between the legs 121 on respective shafts 107 and allow the foot pedestal 104 to rotate by an actuator 106 that is mounted on one of the legs 121. The shafts 107 can be mounted in thrust bearings 220 that are disposed in the legs 121 and accommodate a flanged sleeve 218. Collars 208 provided with a set screw can be affixed on the shafts 107 to hold the elements together. A further aperture 104 a 2 on a flange 104 f affixes the foot pedestal 104 to a rod 106 r of the actuator 106. In this regard, a tube spacer 115 is provided that has a profile to match the rod 106 r and an opposing planar surface to abut against the flange 104 f and a flanged sleeve 115 a serves as a bearing in the further aperture 104 a 2 to allow the foot pedestal 104 to rotate relative to the actuator rod 106 r during actuation of the rod 106 r.

A further tube spacer 115 is provided to mate the actuator rod 106 r to a bolt 221 or to a hinge plate 6 having apertures corresponding to the apertures in the flange 104 f (one for the actuator rod 106 r and one for the pivot axis 108). In the case of a hinge plate 6, another flanged sleeve 115 a is provided in the plate 6 to provide for movement between the rod 106 r and the plate 6 during actuation of the rod 106 r. In this case, the bolt 221 passes through the flange sleeve 115 a and the plate 6. In the case of a hinge plate 6 or just a bolt 221, a nut 116 is provided to hold the elements together. A controller 150 is provided to control the actuator 106.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show an embodiment with a modified foot pedestal 104 and calf brace 330 is provided. The foot pedestal 104 includes a strap adjustment plate 1104 that is longitudinally displaceable on foot pedestal 104 for accommodating different size feet. The adjustment plate 1104 includes opposing slots 1104 s for receiving the strap 304. The support plate 104 p includes longitudinal slots 104 ps which are engaged by fasteners 1104 f for setting the position of the adjustment plate 1104. The foot pedestal 104 also include a heel plate 2104 which includes slots 2104 s for a strap 304 that acts as a heel cup. The heel plate 2104 also includes a second pair of slots 2104 s 2 for a strap that secures the top of the ankle. Also shown is a cap cover for plate 6 with attachment screws 6 cs.

The modified calf brace 330 includes a concave roller 330A preferably made of a rubber or foam material. Roller 330A is supported at its ends by opposed legs 333, which are each attached to parallel legs 121. Each leg 333 includes an elongated slot 333 s perpendicular to legs 121. Roller 330A is slideable within elongated slots 333 s closer to parallel legs 121 or further away from parallel legs 121 to adjust for a user's calf to comfortably rest and fit against roller 330A. A pair of strap supports 330 s, having an elongated slot 330 s 2 are rotatably attached at the ends of roller 330A for a strap that secures in place the leg calf of a user. Threaded knobs 330K are tightened to securely hold roller 330A in place.

The actuator 106 may be a linear actuator or a rotary actuator, or any appropriate actuator for carrying out the functions described herein.

Based on the above given construction, the foot pedestal 104 serves to selectively and precisely rotate a foot of a user about the corresponding ankle joint through a foot range of motion by rotating the foot pedestal 104 about the axis 108 over an arc of motion as shown in FIG. 1B.

The device 100 is configured to selectively rotate a patient's foot in a dorsiflexion direction DF (upward) and a plantarflexion direction PF (downward) by providing an appropriate torque to the foot pedestal 104. It is to be understood that any actuation or actuator described herein may be invariably referred to as a “drive”.

Although not shown in the figures, a physical limiter bracket may be selectively installed on the actuator 106, or any appropriate location on the device 100, to limit a rotation range of the link member 104.

The construction of the device 100 provides for the device to be collapsible so that the device 100 fits in a small bag, such as a bowling-ball sized bag.

The device 100 allows eccentric or concentric exercises, and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching due to the mechanics described herein.

The foot pedestal 104 may include a foot securer 304 (FIG. 3) to secure, fasten, or strap the foot to the foot pedestal 104 during rotation of the foot through the foot range of motion.

The device 100 may be configured to register time that the foot pedestal 104 spends at a particular position.

The device 100 may be configured to register force data from forces applied to the foot pedestal 104.

The device 100 may be configured to automatically hold the foot pedestal 104 at a particular position for a predetermined pause time.

The device 100 may be configured to automatically rotatably cycle the foot pedestal 104 between a first position and a second position.

A controller 150 of the end range of motion improving device 100 may include, one or more storage machines holding instructions executable by one or more logic machines to, receive a set of parameters to rotate the foot pedestal 104 based on the set of parameters, record report data, and send the report data to a database.

The set of parameters may include a maximum angle and a minimum angle.

The set of parameters may include a maximum force.

The set of parameters may include time that the foot pedestal 104 is to be held at a particular position.

A method of providing end range of motion therapy with the device 100 is possible by providing an end range of motion improving device 100 and securing a foot of a user to the pedestal 104 and being rotatable about the axis 108 for rotating the foot of the user about an ankle joint of the user through a foot range of motion via the actuator 106. The method provides a user input 151 to the controller 150 by a cord 151A or alternatively by wireless communication, for rotating the foot pedestal 104, providing a user input to the controller for indicating therapy parameters, and rotating the foot according to the user inputs. Likewise, the controller 150 is connected to the actuator 106 by a cord 15A or alternatively by wireless communication. The controller 150 includes a power supply connected to a power source (not shown).

The method may include registering data from usage of the end range of motion improving device 100.

Providing a user input may include providing input from a remote controlling device via a network.

In some embodiments the methods or tasks described above may be executed or carried out by a computing system including a tangible computer-readable storage medium, also described herein as a storage machine, that holds machine-readable instructions executable by a logic machine (i.e. a processor or programmable control device) to provide, implement, perform, and/or enact the above described methods, processes and/or tasks. When such methods and processes are implemented, the state of the storage machine may be changed to hold different data. For example, the storage machine may include memory devices such as various hard disk drives, CD, or DVD devices. The logic machine may execute machine-readable instructions via one or more physical information and/or logic processing devices. For example, the logic machine may be configured to execute instructions to perform tasks for a computer program. The logic machine may include one or more processors to execute the machine-readable instructions. The computing system may include a display subsystem to display a graphical user interface (GUI) or any visual element of the methods or processes described above. For example, the display subsystem, storage machine, and logic machine may be integrated such that the above method may be executed while visual elements of the disclosed system and/or method are displayed on a display screen for user consumption. The computing system may include an input subsystem that receives user input. The input subsystem may be configured to connect to and receive input from devices such as a mouse, keyboard or gaming controller. For example, a user input may indicate a request that one or more tasks are to be executed by the computing system, such as requesting the computing system to display any of the above described information, or requesting that the user input updates or modifies existing stored information for processing. A communication subsystem may allow the methods or tasks described above to be executed or provided over a computer network. For example, the communication subsystem may be configured to enable the computing system to communicate with a plurality of personal computing devices. The communication subsystem may include wired and/or wireless communication devices to facilitate networked communication. The described methods or processes may be executed, provided, or implemented for a user or one or more computing devices via a computer-program product such as via an application programming interface (API). 

We claim:
 1. An ankle end range of motion improving device, comprising: a frame having a first foot, a second foot, a pair of legs spaced apart from one another and being affixed on said first foot, a support stand pivotably mounted to said pair of legs for setting a selectable inclination angle of said pair of legs; a foot pedestal for supporting a foot of a user, said foot pedestal being disposed between said pair of legs, and being rotatable about a pivot axis having a fixed position with respect to said pair of legs; an actuator connected to said foot pedestal for selectively rotating said foot pedestal about said pivot axis. 